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MR 0383 An old Aermotor windmill stands in silhouette - a symbol of American pioneer expansion westward, in Las Cruces, NM.
In the United States, the development of the water-pumping windmill was the major factor in allowing the farming and ranching of vast areas of North America, which were otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. They contributed to the expansion of rail transport systems throughout the world, by pumping water from wells to supply the needs of the steam locomotives of those early times. Two prominent brands were the Eclipse Windmill developed in 1867 (which was later bought by Fairbanks-Morse) and the Aermotor, which first appeared in 1888 and is still in production. The effectiveness of the Aermotor's automatic governor, which prevents it from flying apart in a windstorm, led to its popularity over other models. Currently, the Aermotor windmill company is the only remaining water windmill manufacturer in the United States. They continue to be used in areas of the world where a connection to electric power lines is not a realistic option. The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is a 47-acre (190,000 m2) interactive museum in Las Cruces, New Mexico, that chronicles the state’s 3,000-year history of farming and ranching. The museum is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. The museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road on the southeastern edge of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Bruce King Building features six different galleries and corridors that display permanent and changing exhibits, including fine art, tools and implements, as well as recreated structures such as a mercantile and pithouse. The museum also features the Historic Green Bridge, as well as the Skaggs Dairy Barn, Blacksmith Shop, Beef Barn, the Sheep and Goat Barn, the Greenhouse, gardens, orchards, a pond and livestock. The museum’s education department offers a variety of classes and workshops for all ages and oversees the outreach activities, including the chuck wagon program. There also are monthly lectures and special presentations in the theater.
Size: 5419px × 3532px
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, United States, America
Photo credit: © M L Pearson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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